Jean-Claude Van Damme was well-known in Europe as a kickboxer, but an unknown in Hollywood. He spotted producer Menahem Golan coming out of a restaurant and getting into his car. He introduced himself, and then did a 360 degree spinning kick, narrowly missing Golan's head. Golan signed him the next day to star in this film.

Dux was the first American to win the "Kumite", an international martial-arts fighting tournament. Bloodsport was based on Dux's victory, and Dux claims he also co-wrote that screenplay. He also claims he helped the actor with his martial-arts choreography, because Van Damme "did not have the martial-arts skills that he boasted about."